Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer review

Blue skies are ahead with this water-based primer

photos: we heart this

Several years ago, when face primers first came on the scene, I was mystified. Initially, I could not even comprehend what they were. Eventually, I discovered that the main purpose of a face primer is to prepare your face for your foundation and other makeup. Primers are typically designed to prolong the overall wear of your makeup and to provide you with a smoother “canvas” for application.

Interesting premise, but I don’t even wear foundation. I figured that primers were a waste of money for me. Of course, I completely changed my tune once I tried my first face primer. They really can transform the appearance of your face even if you only wear minimal makeup.

I quickly realized that even though face primers can be miraculous, they are not all created equal. The trick is to find the right one for your skin type. Needless to say, I have been on the hunt for the perfect primer ever since.

My most recent primer adventure comes courtesy of world renowned Australian makeup artist Napoleon Perdis. He really seems to take his primer quite seriously. He even has a motto, “Not to prime is a crime!” Based on the performance of his primer, I would have to agree. (Me too! Stef and I first got a look at this primer at IMATS Los Angeles and fell in love with its silky, soothing formula ~ Tyna)

According to Napoleon Perdis, their Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer is “Scientifically formulated to allow your makeup to ‘automatically’ glide over the skin and helps to prime and soothe the complexion for a flawless finish”. As a bonus, once everything is in place, this primer helps makeup stay put and last longer.

The Auto Pilot is a smooth primer that’s suitable for all skin types and is filled with good for skin ingredients like anti-free radical chamomile, yarrow and vitamin E. Plus this water based primer provides a non-oily moisture boost that all skin types will appreciate.

I have to say that the Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer ($39) is unlike any other that I had ever tried before. Most primers are silicone-based, while as mentioned earlier, Auto Pilot is water-based. (There’s still one “cone” ingredient, but it’s lower on the list. Plus, other primers sometimes have three or four silicone based ingredients.)

This initially took some getting used to. My makeup did not glide on quite as easily without the slippery silicone. But with practice, and as per the directions, I found that if I applied the primer not too long after my moisturizer, I was still able to have that same ease of application.

The pleasant difference that I found with this water-based primer is that my skin was much clearer, smoother, and less irritated. (I agree! My skin can be splotchy and temperamental when I use primers – not a problem here. ~Tyna). I also believe that without all those slippery silcone ingredients, my makeup lasted longer throughout the day.

I found the lightweight formula feels and looks very natural on the face. And it certainly smoothes the skin and improves the overall performance of your makeup. The presence of Chamomile creates a mild scent that did not bother me and does not seem to linger.

Overall, my makeup was locked into auto-pilot and stayed put for the long haul when applied over the Pre-Foundation Primer. I think this will be fantastic for anyone who’s had problems with silicone based primers and those with sensitive skin.

Pros: • Water-based primer is less irritating for sensitive skin• Formula feels light and natural on the skin• Great at helping makeup stay in place• The primer really does help smooth skin texture and improve your complexion• Did not exasperate my extremely oily complexion

Cons:• The difference in texture can be difficult for some to get used to• The price point is a little high for me (I am a notorious cheapskate. But to be fair, $39 for 1.7 fl oz is not the worst on the market.)

Readers and testers – does the smooth formula of the Pre-Foundation Primer keep your makeup in place and on auto-pilot all day too? Let’s talk Napoleon Perdis in the comments!

[ratings]

Kellie is a perpetual grad student, glamorous geek and writer. She hopes to one day soon add the title of history teacher to her repertoire. She resides in the frozen tundra of Northeast Ohio and is an avid consumer of books, tv, music, video games, beauty stuff, and accessories.

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

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Comments

PRE Primer? Wow, who knew!! Great review on this Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer. It really sounds interesting.. I love using primers because they make a huge difference on what the outcome of your makeup will be all day long.. without one everything fades away rather quickly! I have yet to see this one.. will be checking it out hopefully soon and post opinion..

I love primers and have tested lots and lots of them – and I have to say I really, really like this one from Napoleon Perdis. I first tested this at IMATS in Pasadena on the back of my hand – and was so impressed with the silky feel and the way it seem to correct the splotchy bits. So I was very excited to test a tube when it came time for a wht review.

Happily, everything I remembered from IMATS was true when wearing on the face! This primer works great over moisturizer to clear and clarify skin – with or without foundation. Some days I wear a tinted moisturizer over the primer and it really helps it glide on and over my skin and not seep into fine lines. Other days, I wear just the primer and a very light touch of powder and go – love this stuff.

Oh and as mentioned, when I wear a silicone primer too many days in a row, my skin pays for it with redness and pimples. This primer – no issues what so ever. I’ve been wearing it for a month or two and have noticed no new breakouts. Kind of expensive at $39 but a 5 star product for me.Tyna recently posted..Color Theory for the Makeup Lover, part 3

Wow, this sounds great! I love the concept of a water-based primer that will not irritate my skin. I’ll be checking out Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer the first chance I get. Great review, @kellie76 !

Great review @kellie76 Until this product came along, I have had a LOVE/HATE relationship with primer. I LOVE how it helps my makeup stay on and enhances my skins appearance. I HATE that my skin starts to feel clogged and oily at the end of the day.

I had a great “primer” experience. This water –based formulation agrees with my skin much better. I do not have that clogged feeling at the end of the day. The texture kind was unique. It reminds me more of a light moisturizer than the thick consistency of most primers.

Overall, this is great. I can now wear primer more frequently and not fear the consequences.

I have never been able to wear primers, like EVER. I’ve always been totally jealous of people who can. I’ve got oily skin, and even primers that friends have sworn weren’t greasy, one drop of a silicone based primer and the makeup doesn’t just apply easily, it easily slides straight off my face (leaving a pimple in it’s wake – nice!)

So, like Tyna, when we sat with the NP team at IMATS and I heard the word primer, I was already on to lip gloss in my head. Until I felt it. OMG, it’s like moisturizer. Really light moisturizer that instantly absorbs. And by using water as the base (with a touch of a “cone”) you still get that smooth surface. It’s a primer, a primer that I can use. I’m now in the primer club!

Oh yeah, and it smells delicious, kind of herby/kind of flowery, but very faintly. I am a fan of Chamomile !

If you have drier skin or are used to silicone based primers, you may not be a fan. But for me, and oily girls who doesn’t want anything extra making her slick – this is a god sent. 5 huge stars!Stef recently posted..Astara Exfoliating Marine Treatment review

I got to test the Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot primer and admittedly, this is the very first primer I’ve used (I’ve used eye shadow primer, but never full neck/face primer). So while I have no comparison to other silicon based primers, I can vouch for the great way this primer made my skin feel! My skin felt smoother and I found my foundation went on a lot better and had a much more flawless appearance. It also had a noticeable effect on how long my make-up lasted through the day. I was very pleased with how light weight and gentle on my sensitive skin this product was. I hate feeling like I’m wearing a mask so this was perfect! Also, I too am a fan of chamomile, so I found this fresh scent quite lovely. Plus how cute is the flapper style female pilot on the bottle?

For my first foray into primer I am super pleased! 5 stars for me and so happy I finally learned the benefits of a good water based primer!

I am still in love with this excellent primer! I wear it daily! 5 big stars from me! I will be buying this one when I run out. Although I am not sure if this tube will ever run out. A little goes a long way!

This sounds really great! My current primer is a tinted one and it’s a MUCH thinner texture than I’m used to and I discovered that even though it was weird at first, I love it! This seems like the next logical step, a water-based primer that won’t turn oily later? Thanks for the review, @kellie76; this is now on my want list!

Hmm… I’m also in the “I never can wear foundation primers” club. I also love the idea, but with oily skin silicone would settle in my pores; the foundation would go on great but as the day wears on I’d see foundation sitting in my pores as well…and my skin getting more and more oily. I especially haven’t cared to use them since I started using mineral makeup (because it gets buffed into the skin). So this is that different? That good. I am really intrigued…and quite likely to buy soon!

Yikes, $39 for 1.7 fl oz?! I’m willing to splurge on some makeup items, but that’s a bit much for me. But if this primer works for someone, it might be worth it. I’ve tried a lot of different foundation primers, and most of them didn’t work a lick (even the ones that won multiple awards and were “favorites”).Marilyn @ Lipgloss and Spandex recently posted..The depiction of women in advertising

There is actually a much cheaper dupe of this- Face of Australia Face Base primer. It’s an Australian brand and the two primers have exactly the same ingredients in exactly the same order (so same or very similar concentrations). If you google it there have been a few blog posts on it :) it’s only AU$12.95 too. I don’t know if you can buy this brand outside of Aus but eBay might be an option!

I’m a fan of face primers so I was super excited to finally test this out. I love the NP products I’ve tried in the past, so it was nice to try this one out. It feels less “silicone-y” than other primers, but not in a bad way. It definitely gets the job done without being too greasy or oily. Although I’d have to agree, the price point is a bit iffy. However, considering a little goes a long way with primer, I think it’d be worth it considering the quality. 5 stars from me!Kirsten Nunez recently posted..diy: Colorblock Thread Wrapped Belt